Have you ever heard the saying “prevention is better than cure”?
This is a very important factor to keep in mind while choosing toothpaste.
Brushing twice a day with a good toothpaste and regular flossing are essential for not only one’s oral health but the well-being of the entire body.
Children should start a daily tooth-brushing regimen from a young age so that the habit is maintained throughout their lives.
Below are the ingredients of toothpaste and the different kinds of toothpaste available on the market so that you can select a toothpaste that best suits the condition of your teeth or as advised by your dentist.
The basic ingredients of toothpaste
Abrasives
Abrasives like calcium carbonates and silicates form a large amount of all the ingredients of toothpaste.
They help to remove plaque, biofilm, debris, and stains from the teeth, but there is a danger of them eroding the enamel of the teeth.
Fluoride
This is a natural mineral that prevents cavities by hardening the tooth enamel. It protects and strengthens the teeth.
Humectants
To prevent toothpaste from drying out, ingredients like glycerol are added in the manufacture of toothpaste to stop them drying out over time.
Thickeners
Gums from seaweed are added to toothpaste as thickening agents, to maintain the texture of the toothpaste, otherwise it would be too watery to stay on the toothbrush!
Detergents
Sodium lauryl sulphate is a type of detergent that helps to create foam while brushing.
Flavours
Flavours like mint, lemon, strawberry, help to improve the taste of the toothpaste and make it more appealing.
Different types of toothpaste
These days there are a lot of different types of toothpaste on the market, so it’s important to understand their various characteristics to enable you to make the right choice.
Anti-plaque Toothpaste
Anti-plaque toothpaste helps reduce the effects of bacteria on the teeth and gums.
The ingredients in it are antibiotic and anti-fungal like pyrophosphates, zinc citrate, triclosan, which assist in killing bacteria.
This enables it to prevent plaque formation, teeth decay, and gum disease.
Fluoride Toothpaste
Fluoride toothpaste is recommended most often by dentists.
It helps strengthen the weak areas of the teeth and exposed roots and as a result it also prevents the development of cavities too.
Desensitising Toothpaste
Potassium nitrate or strontium chloride in the toothpaste helps block dentinal tubules, which enable allows it to block the transmission of sensation from the surface of the teeth to the roots.
“Children should start a daily tooth-brushing regimen from a young age so that the habit is maintained throughout their lives.”
It therefore provides long-lasting relief to for people who suffer from tooth sensitivity, particularly when consuming hot and cold drinks and food.
Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste has an increased amount of abrasives and detergents than normal toothpaste.
The peroxides in it remove stains and improve the colour of the teeth.
It not only fights stains but also prevents decay and freshens the breath too, but this toothpaste should be used only under the recommendation of a dental expert.
Natural Toothpaste
Natural toothpaste has no chemicals and is composed of herbal extracts and natural ingredients only.
Smoker’s Toothpaste
This has strong abrasives to remove tobacco stains. It also helps to freshen the breath.
Kid’s Toothpaste
Toothpaste for kids contains almost no fluoride and fewer abrasives. But has flavours to entice a kid to build up a regular, good brushing habit.
Conclusion
Keep the information above in mind before selecting a toothpaste because your choice should depend on the kind of dental problems or goals that you have.
Of course if you’d like some expert advice from our team of dentists Gold Coast, then please contact us anytime to make an appointment.
